Asia Times
By Stephen Bryen
Moscow has unleashed its 'Belladonna' drone killer system in Armenia
to counter Azerbaijan's use of Turkish-made Bayraktar armed drones
The electronic warfare system is known as “Belladonna”, a poisonous
plant that gets its name from Renaissance women who used its extract
for tinctures to dilate the pupils of their eyes, ostensibly to make
them more attractive.
While Belladonna translates to “beautiful woman” in English, in
Russian it has a second meaning: it is the name of a Russian
electronic jamming system now credited with knocking out at least nine
Turkish Bayraktar armed drones used by Azerbaijan to target Armenia.
If true – and no one has denied it – the system is now operating
around the sensitive Russian military base at Gyumri in Armenia, far
from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict area.
In Russian, Belladonna is known as “Krasukha.” The Krasukha jamming
system was rushed to Armenia to counter the successful use of both
armed drones such as the Bayraktar and suicide drones like the
Israel-made loitering munition known as Harop.
The Turks have heavily advertised the success of Bayraktar in three
theaters – Syria, Libya and now in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Turkey and Azerbaijan have released numerous “kill videos” of the
drone blowing up tanks, armored vehicles and trucks – and killing many
soldiers in the process.
Bayraktar is a fairly conventional armed drone that is navigated to
the target area using GPS. The drone’s Wescam MX-15D multispectral
camera system is made in Canada while its BRP-Rotax engine that
generates about 100 horse-power is produced in Austria.
Canada has halted the sale of the Wescam camera system to Turkey
because of its use on Bayraktar drones in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. But Canada has been silent about Rotax engine exports,
although the Austrian company is owned by Canada’s Bombardier
Recreational Products.
No doubt there are other Bayraktar parts that are made in Europe, the
United States and elsewhere.
[Photo:An official walks among objects which Armenia presented as
captured and downed Azeri drones during recent armed clashes on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border, in Yerevan, July 21, 2020. Photo:
AFP/Karen Minasyan]
The Krasukha is a broadband multifunctional jamming station
manufactured by KRET (“Concern Radio Electronic Technologies”), part
of the Rostec Group. Since 2014, the company has been under US
sanctions for its activities in Ukraine and in Crimea.
KRET consists of more than 70 member companies in electronics spread
out across Russia while KRET itself acts as a manufacturing group
holding company with about 50,000 employees.
Krakushka was designed primarily to protect areas in and around
Russia’s military bases where its powerful transmitter can blank out
airborne radars. The Russians, however, have also found Krakuska
useful in counteracting armed drones.
Krakushka was used successfully in defending the Hmeymim Air Base in
Syria that was attacked by armed, if not primitive, swarming drones.
An earlier strike by such drones had caused significant damage at the
base, destroying some aircraft, and alarmed Russia’s military about a
significant vulnerability at Hmeymim.
So much so, in fact, that Russia’s defense ministry brought back some
of the drones that crashed and complained bitterly about the spread of
drone technology in the Middle East.
The Russians might also have complained about China, which supplied
the engines, the cameras and the GPS receivers and radios in the
drones that were home-built by ISIS and others. But, of course, they
did not want to stir trouble with their Beijing ally. For the record,
the Russians said the swarming drones caused no damage.
The Russian press claims that at least nine Bayraktar drones were shot
down on or about October 19. Some photos of the drones that crashed
have been released by Armenia and have appeared in the Russian press,
principally at Avia.pro.
The photos show smashed up Bayraktar drones, but no sign they were hit
by ground fire. According to the press reports, the Krakushka jamming
system caused the crashes.
[Photo: This combination of pictures from October 1, 2020, shows (top)
a Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone at Gecitkale military airbase near
Famagusta and (bottom) an Iranian-made Shahed-129 drone. Photos:
AFP/Birol Bebekand Atta Kenare]
The version of Krakushka being used in Armenia is the latest model
Krakushka-4. The system is truck-mounted, but is used primarily to
defend Russian bases. So far as is known, it is not being used by
Armenian forces, nor is it being deployed in the Nagorno-Karabakh
area.
Krakushka jams communications in the same way it blanks out radars; it
does not, however, control the jammed drones. It would appear that the
Bayraktar drone does not have a “return to home” capability if it
loses contact with its base station and if GPS signals are jammed.
Most drones with the capability to return to their home systems rely
on GPS to do so.
The Russians have made clear that the Turkish drones were shot down in
the airspace around the Gyumri military base, which in Armenia is near
the Turkish border and about 487 kilometers from the nearest major
Azerbaijani base at Ganja.
The reported communications range of the Turkish drones is 150
kilometers, so the Azerbaijanis and the Turks would have had to move
their launch point elsewhere to be within operational range unless the
communications range is greater than reported.
But the more profound question is why would the Azerbaijanis and the
Turks fly armed drones near Russian bases, risking Russia’s entrance
into the conflict. Gyumri serves as home to the 102nd Russian military
base controlled by Russia’s Southern Military District.
Were the drones sent on a one-way mission to fly over the area to put
the Russians on notice? It is interesting that in the photos of the
crashed drones there is no sign of any air-to-ground missiles such as
the MAM-L smart micro munition built by Turkey’s Rokestan.
Neither Azerbaijan nor Turkey has made any statement about having nine
of their drones knocked out in or around Gyumri. The Russian
government likewise has not made an official statement on the downed
drones.
Author: Garo Vardanian
WATCH: Artsakh Defense Army hits Azeri TOS-1A heavy multiple rocket launcher
Save
Share
15:21,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Defense Ministry has released a video showing the Artsakh Defense Army striking an Azerbaijani TOS-1A heavy multiple rocket launcher.
[see video]
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Mercury Public Affairs drops Turkey as a client
01:00,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, ARMENPRESS Mercury Public Affairs has terminated its registration as a foreign agent of the Republic of Turkey in response to calls by the Armenian community demanding an end to the company’s association with the Turkish regime amidst its support for Azerbaijan’s genocidal war against Artsakh, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Armenian National Committee of America.
“As a result of our community’s persistent activism and the steadfast support of our friends in elected office, I was just informed by Fabian Núñez, who is a partner at Mercury’s Los Angeles office, that Mercury Public Affairs would be terminating its registration as a foreign agent of Turkey,” remarked Chair of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) Board of Directors, Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “We welcome Mercury’s decision to stand on the right side of history in ending its association with the Government of Turkey and its genocidal policies, and we hope that this decision will serve as an example for every entity which works for or with the authoritarian regimes of Turkey and Azerbaijan.”
Mercury has a long history of working with not only the Turkish government but its many proxies. Mercury has rendered services to the American-Turkish Council Turkish-American Business Council (TAIK) – headed by close ally of Turkish President Erdogan, Mehmet Yalcindag. Last year, Foreign Agent Registration Act filings show Mercury contacted over 150 Congressional offices on behalf of TAIK to set up meetings for Turkish Economy Minister Berat Albayrak – who also happens to be President Erdogan’s son-in-law.
Mercury’s decision to terminate its registration as a foreign agent of Turkey also follows decisions by the Livingston Group and DLA Piper to end their representation of Azerbaijan amidst growing public outcry over Turkey and Azerbaijan’s genocidal aggression against the Armenians of Artsakh.
The Turkish and Azerbaijani governments have for years sought to enforce a gag-rule over United States human rights policy through their insidious attempts to deny the Armenian genocide, and undermine the fundamental rights of the Armenians of Artsakh. Both states rate amongst the worst in the world in terms of democratic standards, media freedoms, and basic civil and political rights.
“Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have spent millions throughout the years on hiring public affairs firms to clean up their public image – tainted by a deplorable track record on human rights, and a severe disregard for democratic freedoms,” said Hovsepian. “The actions taken by DLA Piper, the Livingston Group and now Mercury Public Affairs are an important step in bringing the Turkish-Azerbaijani influence machine to a grinding halt, and preventing their exertion of malign foreign influence here in the United States.”
TURKISH press: Turkey won’t hesitate to send soldiers for Azerbaijan amid Nagorno-Karabakh clashes, VP Oktay says
Vice President Fuat Oktay speaks during the CNN Türk broadcast in Ankara, Turkey, Oct. 21, 2020 (AA Photo)
Turkey will not hesitate to send troops and provide military support for Azerbaijan if such requests were made by Baku, Vice President Fuat Oktay said Wednesday, adding that there were no such requests at the moment.
Earlier in the day, Armenia's prime minister Nikol Pashinyan said he saw "no possibility of a diplomatic solution at this stage" in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan.
Turkey has vowed full solidarity with Azerbaijan as Yerevan continues its illegal occupation of Azerbaijani lands.
During an interview with the private broadcaster, CNN Türk, Oktay also criticized the OSCE Minsk Group, consisting of France, Russia and the United States, formed to mediate the conflict. He said the group was trying to keep the issue unresolved and supporting Armenia, both politically and militarily.
The disputed Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory.
Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of Armenian separatists, backed by Armenia, since a war there ended in 1994. The current fighting that started on Sept. 27 marks the biggest escalation in the conflict since.
Two Russia-brokered cease-fires frayed immediately after entering force and the warring parties have continued to trade blows with heavy artillery, rockets and drones.
According to Armenian separatists, 834 of their troops have been killed, while Azerbaijan has reported 63 civilian deaths and 292 injuries.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has said to end hostilities, Armenian forces must withdraw from the illegally occupied Nagorno-Karabakh.
CNN: Armenia and Azerbaijan agree on a ceasefire, Russian foreign ministry says [video of interview with Aliyev]
CNN News
Oct 9 2020
Armenia and Azerbaijan agree on a ceasefire, Russian foreign ministry says
By Mary Ilyushina and Taylor Barnes, CNN
Updated 0218 GMT (1018 HKT)
Azerbaijani President: Whoever fired first should stop first 10:52
(CNN)Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a ceasefire in their conflict over the enclave of Nagorno Karabakh, according to a readout published by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Armenian President: 'God help everybody' if conflict escalates 07:26
The ceasefire will start Saturday at noon (4 a.m. ET) and will be carried out "for humanitarian purposes, for the exchange of prisoners of war, other detained persons and bodies of the deceased."
The parameters of the ceasefire will be agreed upon separately, the foreign ministry said.
The announcement comes after diplomats met in Moscow and engaged in talks brokered by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh has run hot and cold since the 1994 ceasefire but clashes began on September 27. It's unclear what started this latest escalation. Azerbaijan says Armenia provoked the clashes with aggression and Armenia says Azerbaijani forces attacked.
At least 24 civilians were killed, 121 people were injured and more than 300 buildings destroyed since then, a spokeswoman for the Azerbaijani foreign ministry had said.
The area is populated and controlled by ethnic Armenians, and aided by the Armenian diaspora but it sits inside Azerbaijani territory. It is heavily militarized and its forces have been backed by Armenia, which has a security alliance with Russia.
Azerbaijan has long claimed it will retake the territory, which is internationally recognized as Azerbaijani.
Watch the video CNN Interview with Aliyev at
Why Erdogan’s flexing muscle in Karabakh
Yahoo! News
Oct 7 2020
Why Erdogan's flexing muscle in Karabakh
Reuters
The worsening conflict between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces has seen one regional power — Turkey — throw its weight against both Russia and its own NATO allies.
And its President Tayyip Erdogan has described it as part of a quest for Turkey's, quote, "deserved place in the world order."
Turkey is backing Azerbaijan in the fighting over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Turkish-made drones now spearhead Azeri attacks and one senior official in Ankara said Turkey was providing infrastructure and support for the weapons, though it has no troops in the field.
Hundreds dead, heavy artillery, tanks, and planes. It's the worst fighting there in decades.
Erdogan sees an opportunity to change the status quo, rather than going along with decades-old mediation efforts by the U.S., France and Russia that he says have failed.
And to bolster support at home by flexing muscle abroad.
Ankara's reliance on gas imports from Azerbaijan adds another incentive.
The enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan, but ruled and populated by ethnic Armenians.
Cross-border campaigns such as those waged by Turkey in northern Syria, Iraq and Libya are a priority for Erdogan, another Turkish official said, and boost support for his party.
But Turkey denies accusations by the French and Syrian presidents that it has sent Syrian jihadists it backs to fight in Nagorno-Karabakh.
And Russian allegations it's sending mercenaries.
Although Turkey's stance sends an implicit threat to Armenia and its ally Moscow, Erdogan's also betting that despite their differences, Turkey and Russia get on well enough to prevent a wider conflict in the region.
– The worsening conflicts between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces has seen one regional power, Turkey, throw its weight against both Russia and its own NATO allies, and its President Tayyip Erdogan has described it as part of a quest for Turkey's, quote, "deserved place in the world order."
Turkey is backing Azerbaijan in the fighting over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkish-made drones now spearhead Azeri attacks, and one senior official in Ankara said Turkey was providing infrastructure and support for the weapons, though it has no troops in the field. Hundreds dead, heavy artillery, tanks and planes– it's the worst fighting there in decades.
Edogan sees an opportunity to change the status quo, rather than going along with decades old mediation efforts by the US, France, and Russia, that he says have failed, and to bolster support at home by flexing muscle abroad. Ankara's reliance on gas imports from Azerbaijan adds another incentive.
The enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan but ruled and populated by ethnic Armenians. Cross-border campaigns, such as those waged by Turkey in northern Syria, Iraq, and Libya, are a priority for Erdogan, another Turkish official said, and boost support for his party. But Turkey denies accusations by the French and Syrian presidents that it has sent Syrian jihadists it backs to fight in the Nagorno-Karabakh and Russian allegations it's sending mercenaries.
Although Turkey's stance sends an implicit threat to Armenia and its ally Moscow, Erdogan's also betting that despite their differences, Turkey and Russia get on well enough to prevent a wider conflict in the region.
Watch the video at
Armenia reports ‘heavy fighting’ with Azerbaijan in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region
Deutsche Welle, Germany
Oct 3 2020
Scores of soldiers were killed in heavy clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces despite calls for a ceasefire. A pro-Armenian separatist leader said he was heading into a "final battle" in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces were locked in intense warfare over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh province on Saturday, with Armenia reporting that over 50 pro-Armenian separatist soldiers lost their lives.
Armenia-backed separatist forces had thwarted a "massive attack" by Azerbaijan and begun a counter-offensive, Armenian defense ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan said. "Heavy fighting is ongoing," she added.
Read more: Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia 'stands ready' for peace talks
Pro-Armenian Karabakh separatist leader Arayik Harutyunyan said he was on his way to the front line for what he described as the "final battle."
Read more: US, Russia, France condemn fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh
Baku and Yerevan have for decades been engaged in a simmering conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian part of Azerbaijan which broke away from Baku in a 1990s war which claimed some 30,000 lives.
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have defied international calls for a ceasefire while accusing each other of starting the recent conflict.
The fighting, which broke out last Sunday, has seen the heaviest clashes since a 1994 truce between the warring sides. Some 200 people have perished, including more than 30 civilians.
The conflict increases the likelihood of a wider regional war that could involve Russia and Turkey amid concern about stability in the South Caucasus, where pipelines deliver Azeri oil and gas to global markets.
https://www.dw.com/en/armenia-reports-heavy-fighting-with-azerbaijan-in-disputed-nagorno-karabakh-region/a-55145859
Azerbaijan Used "Unmanned" Bi-planes to Locate Armenian Air Defence
Defense World
Oct 3 2020
Azerbaijan is flying “unmanned” An-2 biplanes as decoys to locate Armenian air defence and artillery position.
The bi-planes fly towards Armenian positions forcing their ground troops to open fire thus exposing them to Azeri raids by drones and ground artillery, topcor.ru reported Friday.
The pilots of the An-2 bi-planes parachute out soon after pointing the aircraft at Armenian positions. The plane’s control are secured with belts to ensure it maintains course.
Earlier, press secretary of the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, Vahram Poghosyan, announced the destruction of the Azerbaijani aircraft by their military. Later, Armenia confirmed shooting down an An-2 plane and added that pilot of the aircraft was missing.
Nagorno-Karabakh has lost 48 soldiers since the beginning of the war. On September 28, Yerevan announced the advance of Azerbaijani troops in Nagorno-Karabakh. On the same day, the attacked side revealed destruction of a dozen tanks of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
Azeri AN-2 shot down by Nagrano-Karabkh forces: Unconfirmed video
An incident was reported on October 1 when an Azeri An-2 biplane was shot down by Nagorno-Karabakh missile system. However, the body of the pilot was not found near the wreckage leading to suspicion that the aircraft may have been unmanned.
YouTube videos of the incident show a blurry image of a slow-flying airplane being shot by a missile. From the footage the aircraft cannot be identified.
However, reports in the Russian media said the press secretary of the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, Vahram Poghosyan, announced the destruction of the Azerbaijani (AN-2) aircraft by the republic's military. Later, the press secretary of the Armenian defense department Shushan Stepanyan confirmed that the attacked combat aircraft was an An-2.
Apparently, Azerbaijanis use An-2 in an "unmanned" mode. The steering wheel of the aircraft is secured with belts, and the pilot himself makes a parachute jump at a safe distance from the place of hostilities, Topcor.ru reported.
Turkish Press: Iran denies transferring military equipment to Armenia
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Sept 29 2020
Iran denies transferring military equipment to Armenia
29.09.2020
TEHRAN
Iran’s foreign ministry on Tuesday denied reports about transferring weapons and military equipment to Armenia.
Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Iran is carefully examining the goods that pass through its borders.
“Iran will not allow any kind of weapon and ammunition transfer,” he told a press conference in Tehran.
The spokesman said that non-military goods were still crossing between Iran and neighboring countries as usual, adding that the trucks suspected of carrying weapons were transporting normal commercial products.
Violence flared up on the front line between Azerbaijan and Armenia on Sunday after Armenian forces attacked Azerbaijani civilian settlements and military positions.
Relations between the two former Soviet nations have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Upper Karabakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan.
Four UN Security Council and two UN General Assembly resolutions, as well as many international organizations, demand the withdrawal of the occupying forces.
Several countries, including France, Russia and NATO, have called for an immediate halt to clashes in the occupied region.
*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara
Health ministry: Armenia expected to get first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in 2021
News.am, Armenia
Sept 26 2020
15:09, 26.09.2020